**Manchester United have announced that key defender Millie Turner has penned a three-year contract extension with the club.**
The centre-back has been with the Red Devils since the club’s inception in 2018, becoming a key figurehead in the United defence.
Head coach Marc Skinner told _The Halfway Line_ that he is “so excited” about Turner’s decision to remain at the club.
“She has a steep history in Manchester United,” Skinner exclaimed. “She’s one of the kids that came through the academy. I’m so excited, but I’m also a realist in terms of how I’ve challenged Millie. I want Millie to be better. I want her to be as incredible as she is, and she can be a real leading light for our team in many moments.
“I want her to be even better, because her next challenge should be to win things at Manchester United and and try and get a place in an England team. She’s got work to do in order to do that on a consistent basis, but she’s we are so grateful that she’s part of our team.
“This year, I put her this year into my leadership group. That shows the growth and how important she is to us. So I’m looking forward to that growth as well. My job is to challenge anyone that comes to the club, anyone that has signed, they’re signing because they see a future at Man United that’s positive.”
Skinner went on to highlight that Turner’s extension is a positive indication of the “false noise” surrounding the club’s backroom environment.
“All of the noise that is reported, that is false. Because when you see somebody that’s been here all the time and still wants to remain here all the time, then it shows a lot about our environment and what she’s going to do in it,” the head coach emphasised.
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Millie Turner and Maya Le Tissier have become Skinner’s statement pairing at the centre of defence, currently holding the league’s most clean sheets (10) this season. The head coach highlighted the importance of the clarity that Turner’s decision will now allow for.
“It’s so exciting because actually, since I’ve been here, if you’ve if you’ve watched my teams, I’ve constantly, every year had to evolve, adapt, adjust,” Skinner admitted.
“Those two have been a real stalwart pair in the building of our solid foundations. Obviously, Phallon \[Tullis-Joyce\] has added to Mary from last year. So I think that it’s consistency is key for me, because it gives the same message and in that, and that’s the stats, the secret sauce is to make sure that while we’re being consistent, that she’s getting better.
“So, that’s what I’ve challenged us to do. When I congratulated her on signing the contract, I was like right, come on, what’s next? Let’s move forward. And she’s all on board, she’s fully on board what we’re trying to do.”